Exped Skyline 25 vs. Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Skyline 25 | Feature | Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| Y | Rain-fly | optional |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 1 |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| 210 D Robic HD Ripstop nylon, PU coated, 1'500 mm water column | 210 Nylon HT Rip Stop Cordura™, 210 Polyester Oxford |
Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.44 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×25×22 cm |
| Airline fit | 75% |
| Price | $100 |
Key differences between the Exped Skyline 25 and Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack
- Opening: Top zip on the Exped Skyline 25; Top flap on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
- Rain cover: Yes on the Exped Skyline 25; Optional on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
- Water bottle pockets: 2 on the Exped Skyline 25; 1 on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Exped Skyline 25; No on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 75 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Skyline 25, and 66 accept only the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
Only the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack fits
Air Asia, Air Canada, Air Macau, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, CommutAir, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kulula, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Tiger Airways, Trans States, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, WestJet.
Exped Skyline 25 vs. Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack: which should you pack?
The Exped Skyline 25 carries 5L more than the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack (25L vs. 20L), while the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack is the lighter pack at 0.44kg (vs. 1.03kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack fits 75% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Skyline 25; if you want to travel lighter, the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack is the better call.